Unit Weights of Soil

Symbols and Notations

γ, γm = unit weight, bulk unit weight, moist unit weight
γd = Dry unit weight
γsat = Saturated unit weight
γb, γ' = Buoyant unit weight or effective unit weight
γs = Unit weight of solids
γw = Unit weight of water (equal to 9810 N/m3)
W = Total weight of soil
Ws = Weight of solid particles
Ww = Weight of water
V = Volume of soil
Vs = Volume of solid particles
Vv = Volume of voids
Vw = Volume of water
S = Degree of saturation
w = Water content or moisture content
G = Specific gravity of solid particles

Bulk Unit Weight / Moist Unit Weight

γ=WV

γ=Ww+WsVv+Vs

γ=γwVw+γsVs
Vv+Vs
 γ=γwVw
+GγwVsVv+Vs

γ=Vw+GVsVv+
Vsγw

γ=SVv+GVs
Vv+Vsγw

γ=S(Vv/Vs)+G(Vs/Vs)(Vv/Vs)
+(Vs/Vs)γw

γ=Se+Ge+1γw

γ=(G+Se)γw1+e

 
Note: Se = Gw, thus,

γ=(G+Gw)γw1+e

 
Moist unit weight in terms of dry density and moisture content

γ=WV=Ws+WwV

γ=Ws(1+Ww/Ws)V=WsV(1+w)

γ=γd(1+w)

Dry Unit Weight (S = w = 0)

From

 
γ=(G+Se)γw1+e and 

γ=(G+Gw)γw1+e, S = 0 and w = 0

γd=Gγw1+e

Saturated Unit Weight (S = 1)

From
  γ
=(G+Se)γw1+e, S = 100%

γsat=(G+e)γw1+e

 
Buoyant Unit Weight or Effective Unit Weight

γ′=γsat−γw

γ′=(G+e)γw1+e−γw

γ
′=(G+e)γw−(1+e)γw1+e

γ
′=Gγw+eγw−γw−eγw1+e

γ′=Gγw−γw1+e
 γ′=(G−1)γw1+e

Unit weight of water

γ = 9.81 kN/m3
γ = 9810 N/m3
γ = 62.4 lb/ft3
 
Typical Values of Unit Weight for Soils
Type of soil γsat (kN/m3) γd (kN/m3)

Gravel 20 - 22 15 - 17

Sand 18 - 20 13 - 16

Silt 18 - 20 14 - 18

Clay 16 - 22 14 - 21

Densities of Soil
The terms density and unit weight are used interchangeably in soil mechanics. Though
not critical, it is important that we know it. To find the formula for density, divide the
formula of unit weight by gravitational constant g (acceleration due to gravity). But
instead of having g in the formula, use the density of water replacing the unit weight of
water.
 
Basic formula for density (note: m = W/g)

ρ=mV
 
The following formulas are taken from unit weights of soil:
 ρ=(G+Se)ρw1+e

ρ=(G+Gw)ρw1+e

ρd=Gρw1+e

ρsat=(G+e)ρw1+e

ρ′=(G−1)ρw1+e
 
Where
m = mass of soil
V = volume of soil
W = weight of soil
ρ = density of soil
ρd = dry density of soil
ρsat = saturated density of soil
ρ' = buoyant density of soil
ρw = density of water
G = specific gravity of soil solids
S = degree of saturation of the soil
e = void ratio
w = water content or moisture content
 
Density of water and gravitational constant
ρw = 1000 kg/m3
ρw = 1 g/cc
ρw = 62.4 lb/ft3
g = 9.81 m/s2
g = 32.2 ft/sec2
 

Relative Density
Relative density is an index that quantifies the state of compactness between the loosest
and densest possible state of coarse-grained soils.
 
The relative density is written in the following formulas:

Dr=emax−eemax−e
min
 

Dr=1(γd)min−1γd1(γd)min−1(γd)max

 
where:
Dr = relative density
e = current void ratio of the soil in-situ
emax = void ratio of the soil at its loosest condition
emin = void ratio of the soil at its densest condition
γd = current dry unit weight of soil in-situ
(γd)min = dry unit weight of the soil at its loosest condition
(γd)max = dry unit weight of the soil at its densest condition
 

Designation of Granular Soil Based on Relative Density

Dr (%) Description

0 - 20 Very loose

20 - 40 Loose

40 - 70 Medium dense

70 - 85 Dense

85 - 100 Very dense